The Heavenly Academy, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
A second benefit of the Heavenly Academie. The attaining of heavenly things after they are knowne.
NEither is there onelyonly a new knowledge given us in the heavenly schoole, by which wee may truly and rightly see the things of God, but there is a new vertue infused to us, by wch we may receive and enjoy them. If onelyonly a light and sight had beene given us, by which wee may clearely see and know the excellent things which God hath prepared, but had no power to receive them, our sight & knowledge of them, might serve as a light, whereby to see their excellencie, and our owne miserie. For then should we only see an happinesse, from which our selves are excluded. But God, rich in merciemercy, and who worketh his works from end to end, teacheth the will to receive, as well as the understanding to see. He gives not onelyonly an eye to behold, but a hand to receive celestiall riches. It is a poore and beggerly speculation, to know the richnesse of Mines, the preciousnesse of jewels, the value of pearles, and in the meane time, by having none of them, to suffer extremities of penurie and want. But our highest Teacher not only sheweth us the treasures of his Kingdome, but teacheth us to take them, and so maketh us truly and really rich. As they are not in themselves meere words, and bare imaginations, butaProv. 3. 14. Prov. 8. 18, 19. & vers. 21. foreign, Substantia permanens. realities, enduring riches, true and solid substance, which the heavenly Teacher by a new light discovereth to us: so neither are they presented to us as bare sights, shewes, and spectacles, but they are really made ours, by his teaching of our wils and affections to apprehend and receive them. Christ Jesus the precious Pearle of the Gospel, in whom are hid al treasures of blessednesse, anoynting our eyes with his oyntments, appeares to us as the fairest of men; and annoynting our hearts with his oyntments, fills our hearts with such love of him, that we are drawne to run after him; and running after him, wee overtake him, and overtaking wee are married to him: And being married to him, Christ our Well-beloved is ours; and if Christ be ours, all things with him are ours also. In him we have blessings of the highest nature, and more immediately flowing into us from the Creator: remission of sins, peace with God, communion with God, conformitie to God, a spirituall sonship, an inhabitation of the Spirit, an earnest of an eternall inheritance, a joy unspeakable and glorious, a power of godlinesse, the hidden Manna, fore-tasts of blessednesse, the kisses of Christ Jesus. Such invaluable treasures, and glorious riches are taught us, & given us by teaching, when God is our Teacher, & we are taught of God. Whiles he calls on us without with his outward word, to open our mouths wide, hee calls, moves, and teacheth us within with his operative word, so to open them, that they are filled with these good things; yea with Himselfe, who is Goodnesse it selfe.
This is a lesson which is onelyonly taught in the heavenly schoole; For none can come to Christ, but hee whom the Father drawes by his heavenly teaching: if wee ascend not up to the Heavenly Academie, and get up above the teaching of men, unto the teaching of God, our hearts will never thorowly learne this lesson of happinesse. The besenesse and sensualitie of mans heart will lye downe below the due estimation, price, and love of these pearles; and not suffer it to open it selfe, though it be to a Saviour bringing blessednes with him. It will not give a messe of temporall profit, preferment, or pleasure, for an heavenly birthright, and a glorious inheritance. It will account it the chiefe learning, to learne some new promotions, lands, and lordships: and no wonder, for it takes onelyonly visible things for realitie, though these be but temporall, and perish with the using; and though the things not seene are an enduring substance for all eternitie. But the schollers taught in the schoole of Christ, account it their chiefe learning to learne, and by learning to receive Christ with his blessings and blessednesse; whom the more they thus learne, the higher are they esteemed and placed by their Master, who is Truth it selfe, in the schoole of blessednesse.